Autoimmune enteropathy

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1];

Autoimmune enteropathy is a rare condition that happens usually to infants, young children and sometimes adults make them to have several diarrhea and sometimes so much that the children need intravenous fluids. Food and vitamins are also be effected because the body attacks to the own intestinal wall, irritating the lining of the intestine. Sometimes it attacks to others places as thyroid or others glands in the body or kidneys.

• Diagnosis can be done based on the serology. Antibodies such as IgG or IgA against enterocytes are diagnostic of autoimmune enteropathy.

• The main symptoms are:
  • Diarrhea (losing fluids all the time)
  • Intestinal inflammation
  • Intestinal bleeding
  • Poor weight gain and weight loss
  • Decreased urine output
  • Skin rash

• Main modality of treatment are the drugs suppressing immune system.
• Intravenous nutrition and a special diet are the requirements for children.

• Surgery is not needed in many cases.